epstein



W. C. EPSTEIN INCINERATOR Filed 001;. 19. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 his ,47m/@NEW May 30, 1933.

Patented May 30, 1933 euren WILLIAM C. EPSTEIN, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DUO-TOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO v Y rrrornnnnroa Application iiled. October 19, 1931. Serial N0. l569,578.

This invention relates to an incinerator Jfor garbage or the like and more particularly to such an incinerator Combined with a water heater.

One object of the invention is to provide an incinerator with an improved hopper which willV cause the material thereinto be quickly dried and burned.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a hopper which will efficient# ly transmit the heat from the burning material in the hopper to the water in the heating element.

A further object ot the invention is toy provide a hopper of such a character that the vapors from the burning material will not be condensed and distillate deposited on the water heating element or other parts of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a hopper which will besimple in its construction, inexpensive to build and light in weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination water heater and incinerator with a top structure which will properly proportion the draft between the combustion chamber and the iiues of the water heater.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination water heater and incinerator with a top structure of such a character that the various parts of the apparatus are readily accessible for cleaning.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the apparatus is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through a combined incinerator and water heater embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;v Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through a part of the apparatus on the line 3-3 ot Fig. l; Fig. 4: is a. transverse section taken through the hopper on the line 4 4 of Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of a slight-ly modified form of hopper.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same in connection with a combined incinerator and water heater of the type shown and described in my Patent No. 1,794,947 granted to me on March 3, 1931, but it will be understood that this particular embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of* illustration only and that the apparatus may take various forms without departing :from the spirit of the invention.

In the construction here illustratedv the apparatus comprises an annular water tank or water heating element 6, the central',v

" FFICE opening 7, which extends entirely through l the tank, constituting a combustion cham-V ber within which the garbage or other material to be consumed may be supported and. burned. The outer Wall of the tankl is insulated in the usual manner, as shown at 8, and this outer wall projects some distance beyond the bottom 9 of the tank and is supported upon a suitable base 10. Carried by the base and arranged beneath the combustion chamber is a gas burner 11. The

supply of fuel to the gas burner is autoy matically controlled to cause the same to operate at intervals in accordance with the temperature of the water of the tank but this automatic control forms no part of the invention and inasmuch as it is Well known it need not be here illustrated. y

Supported within the combustion chamber 7 is a suitable container for garbage or other material to be consumed, herein referred to as a hopper. This hopper comprisesftwoshells of thin metal arranged one within the other and supported in fixed relation one to the other. The outer shell 12 is of a diameter only slightly less than the interior diameter of the combustion chamber, just enough clearance being left. between these parts to permit the hopper to be inserted in and removed from the combustion chamber and to provide for such minor variations in the size of the parts as may occur in theA normal manufacturing processes. This outershell serves as a support for the hopper as a whole Y and has at its upper end an outwardly eXtending flange 13 which overhangs the iXed part of the apparatus and supports the hopper within the combustion chamber. The inner shell 14C is of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the outer shell and is provided with longitudinal parts or ribs 15 ex* tending outwardly and having their outer edges in contact with or close to the outer shell. Preferably these ribs arc hollow so that they may constitute channels or passageways for air and products of combustion within the inner shell. In the preferred construction the shell is formed of sheet metal and longitudinal portions thereof are bent outwardly at intervals about the same to form the ribs and the side walls of each rib converge outwardly and are connected at their outer edges. These ribs being in engagement with or close tothe outer shell and being spaced onetfrom the vother form channels 16 between theinncr shell and the outer shell which are open at both their lower and upper ends to. permit of the passage of the products of .combustion through the same.

, If desired, the inner shell may be provided with openings 17 between adjacent ribs to.

connect the corresponding channels with the interior of the shell. The inner shell of the hopper may be conveniently formed from corrugated sheet metal and, as shown in Fig. 4, itis formed from sheet metal having corrugations of the usual vform. In that form shown in Fig. the inner shell, which is indicated at 18, has especially formed corrugations 19, which are V-shaped in cross section and which have a line contact with the outer shell somewhat narrower than the contact between the oorrugations 15 of Fig. et and the outer shell. Otherwise the two constructions are the same. The inner shell has secured to its lower end an extension or basket 20 provided at its lower end with a grate n supporting structure 21a. `This lower portion 20 and grate structure 21 are subjected to. the direct action of the dame from the burner and are therefore preferably made ot metal having high heat resisting qualities and are detachably connected one to the other and to the inner shell of the hopper so that either or both may be removed and renewed without renewing the hopper as a whole. It will be noted that the basket 2O extends into the-inner hopper and being cylindrical in form does 'not close or interfere with the channels 16.

The outer wall of the tankand its insulated covering 8 project some dista-nce above the top wall 21 of the tank and a top plate 22 rests upon the upper edge of this outer wall, the plate having a downturned flange 23 positioning the same thereon.- Depending from the top plate and, in the present instance, cast integraltherewith, is a hollow structure 24 which forms an outlet chamber or smoke box leading to anV outlet or flue 25. This hollow structure is spacedfrom the top wall 21 of the tank so that it does not close the upper ends ot the flues 26 which extend through the tank. It is provided in its side wall with openings 27 through which the products of combustion may enter the same. It is also provided in .its bottom wall with an opening 28 through which the upper end of the outer shell of the hopper extends and the iiange 13 ot' that outer shell rests upon this bottom wall to support the hopper. In the present construction the bottom wall is depressed about the opening 23 and the flange 13 rests on this depressed portion. The flange 13 is shown in the form of a supporting member or ring separate from the outer shell of the hopper and having depending lugs 29 secured to that shell, thus avoiding any substantial obstruction of the channels 16. The top plate 22 is provided with a relatively large open-ing which, in the present instance.,

is substantially coincident with the top oit the hollow structure 24, as shown at 30. This opening is closed by a top plate 3l which is provided with the outlet 25 for the products of combustion and with a filling opening 32 through which material may be deposited in the hopper. In the present construction the top plate is provided with a depressed portion 33 about the opening 30 therein and the closure plate rests on this depressed portion of the top plate so that the upper surfaces of the two plates are substantially Hush. Ar-

ranged within the hollow structure or outlet chamber 24 is a chute 34 to guide the inaterial trom the inlet opening 32 to the hopper. This chute is separate from the hopper and is supported by the supporting member or ring 13 for the outer shell o't .the hopper. This supporting member is provided with recesses 35 arranged to receive lugs 36 on the chute and correctly position the same with its lower end in line with and, if desired, resting upon the inner shell of the hopper. rlhe upper portion of the chute is flared and is of such a size and shape that it extends bonoath both the outlet 25 and the filling opening 22 in the closure plate 31 but the upper edge of the chute is spaced from the closure plate and from the side walls of the hollow structure so as to permit the passage of products of combustion fron'rthe .hollow structure to the outlet. Preferably the closure| plate 5:1 is provided about the filling opening with a depen ding'flange 37 which extends to a line near the upper level of the edge of the chute to prevent any of the material deposited in the chute from escaping into the hollow structure outside of the chute. The illing opening in the closure plate is closed h v a lid which, in the present instance is pivotally mounted on the closure plate and is provided with a battle 39 spaced from the lower surfacethereof to Vprevent excessive heating of the lid. Further, if desired, the outlet 25, which leads Yto the stack or chimney, may be provided with a grid L.t0 to prevent Leinen-i large pieces of burning paper or other material from passing into-the stack.

rlhe arrangement of the outlet leading to the stacks is such as to bring the outlet comparatively close to the hopper and toy provide for the direct loiv of the products oi combustion from the hopper to the outlet. 1t will be apparent that with the top structure arranged as shown the products oi` combustion passing through the iiues 26 of the Water tank will enter the space above the tank and pass through the openings 27 into the outlet chamber or smoke box. rEhe products of combustion passing through the channels 16 between the two shells of the hopper will directly enter the outlet chamber and pass about the upper edge of the chute to the outlet, and the products of combustion passing from the upper end of the inner shell of the hopper will pass through the chut-e directly to the outlet. Thisy arrangement enables the draft to be properly proportioned bet-Ween the ilues in the Water tank, on the one hand, and the hopper, on the other hand, thereby enabling the structure to be so arranged as to provide a most eiiicient heating of the Water and drying and burning of the material in the hopper. The closure plate and the chute are readily removable, thus permitting the hopper to be lifted bodily from the combustion chamber and also permitting the cleaning of soot or the like from the outlet chamber. This soot is brushed directly into the hopper and finds its Way to the lower end ot the hopper and to the ash pan el arranged beneath the burner. to the chute will be dried and eventually consumed by the products of combustion passing through the chute.

The construction of the hopper is such to provide for a quick drying and burning of the garbage or material therein, a more eliicient transmission ot heat from the hopper to the Water tank and the prevention of the deposit of distillate on the inner Wall of the Water tank. Vihen garbage or the like is deposited in the inner shell of the hopper it may or may not till the hollow ribs, and

Ythis depending upon the character and sottness o the material. Ordinarily the ribs Will not be filled completely, this being particularly true of ribs of the shape shown in Fig. 5. Then the ribs are not completely vfilled passageways will be formed near the outer parts of th'e ribs through which air and products of combustion may pass, thus expediting the drying of the material and subsequently causing the more rapid burning thereof. It the hollow ribs are completely filled with material the material. therein will be dried more rapidly than Will the material inthe body of the hopper because of the application of heat directly to the side Walls of the ribs. As the material in the ribs 'dries it Will Y Any material which may adhere.

the outer shell with which the ribs are usually in line contact, thereby heating this outer shell. The outer shell is spaced a very slight distance from the Wall of the combustion chamber, that is, the inner Wall of the Water tank, and may in places be in contact with that Wall and therefore the heat from the outer shell of the hopper Will be'transmitted to the tank and the heat generated in the hopper by the burning of material therein Will be utilized very eihciently for the heating of the Water. Even when the hopper is empty and no material is burning therein the arrangement ot the shells and the ribs Will increase the thermal etlicien-cy of the device and canse the products of combustion, passing through the channels 16 between the tWo shells and through the empty inner shell, to heat the ribs and the outer shell and this heat Will be eliciently transmitted to the water tank.

1n incinerators as'heretofore constructed the vapors Which are given off by the drying and burning material in the hopper Will be condensed in part by contact with the relatively cool Wall of the Water tank or other Water heating element and a distillate Will be deposited upon the Wall of the tank, or on other parts of the apparatus, Which will harden and accumulate to such an extent that it must eventually be scraped ofi. lVith the construction of the hopper here described the condensation is reduced to a minimum and any distillate that is deposited on any part of the apparatus is quickly burned off. 1t Will be noted irst that because of the arrangement of the two shells oi"- the hopper little, if any, of the products of combustion Will come directly in contact With the Wall of the combustion chamber. The outer shell of the hopper is heated quickly to such a temperature that there Will be no tendency of the vapors or gases to condense thereon but on .the contrary the gases or vapors Will bev largely it not completely consumed by this heat. Should any of the vapors or gases given ott' by the garbage during the drying process, as when the material is drying under the action of the hot Water in the tank and the burner is not in operation, be condensed and deposited on the outer shell ot the hopper this deposit Will be quickly burned off When the burner comes into operation and the -flame from the burner.

understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure ;by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a water tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be Y consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell supported in proximity to the inner wall of said tank, and an inner shell supported within and spaced from said outer shell and having hol- .low longitudinal ribs spaced apart about the same, said ribs having open communication with the interior of said inner shell and having their outer edges closed and arranged close to said outer shell.

2. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a water tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber: a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell supported in proximity to the inner wall of said tank, and an inner shell supported within and spaced from said outer shell and having hollow longitudinal ribs spaced apart about the ysame, said hollow ribs being open at both ends and having open communication with the interior of said inner shell and having their outer edges closed and arranged close to said outer shell.

3. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a water tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell supported in proximity to the wall of said tank and an inner shell supported within and spaced from said outer shell and having a series of longitudinal hollow ribs spaced about the same and in open communication with the interior thereof, the side walls of each rib converging Voutwardly and having their outer edges connected one to the other and arranged close to said outer shell.

al.. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a water tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an'outer shell supported in proximity to the wall of said tank and an inner shell formed of corrugated sheet metal with the corrugations extending lengthwise thereof, and having the outer corrugations arranged close to said outer shell.

5. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a water tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be consumed mounted insaid combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell supported in proximity to the wall of said tank and an inner shell supported within and spaced from said outer shell and having a series of hollow longitudinal ribs in open communication therewith and having their outer edges close to said outer shell, said ribs being spaced apart to form channels between the same and said inner shell, having openings between adjacent ribs to connect the corresponding channels with the interior of said.l

inner shell.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a water tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber and having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof, a top plate supported on said outer wall and having an opening therethrough, a hopper supported in said combustion chamber beneath the opening in said top wall, a chute supported below said top plate in line with the opening therein and leading to said hopper, and a movable closure for said chute.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a water tank having a vertical opening forming a. combustion chamber and having` its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof, a top plate supported on said outer wall and having an opening therethrough in line with said combustion chamber, a hopper supported in said combustion chamber, a chute separate from said hopper removably supported below said top plate and having its lower end arranged to discharge into said hopper, and a movable closure for said chute.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a water tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber and having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof, a top plate supported on said outer wall and having an opening therethrough in line with said combustion chamber, a hopper supported in said combustion chamber', a chute removably supported above said hopper with its upper end in line withv said opening in said top plate, and a closure for the opening in said top plate.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a wa ter tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber and having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof, a top plate supported on said outer wall and having an opening therethrough in line with said combustion chamber, a hopperv mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, a supporting member cornected with said outer shell and with said top plate, a chute supported by the supporting member for said outer shell with its upper end in line with the opening in said top plate and its lower end in line with said inner shell, and a closure for the opening in said top plate.

l0. In an apparatus of the character described, a water tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber and having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof, a hopper supported in said combustion chamber, a plate supported on said outer wall and having opening therethrough, a. closure plate for said opening supported by said top plate and having an opening therethrough, a chute supported beneath said closure plate in line with the open ing therein and arranged to discharge into said hopper, and a movable closure for said chute mounted on said closure plate.

1l. In an apparatus of the character -described, a water tank having a vertical openingl forming a combustion chamber, having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof and having passageways for the products of combustion, a burner beneath said tank, a tcp plate supported on said outer wall of said tank, spaced from the top of said tank and having an opening therethrough, a hollow structure depending from said top plate, forming an outlet chamber for products of combustion and having openings in the side and bottom walls thereof, a hopper supported in said combustion chamber by said structure, a chute supported in said hollow structure and arranged to discharge into said hopper, and a movable closure for said chute.

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, a water tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber, having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof and having passageways for the products of combustion, a burner beneath said tank, a top plat-e supported on said outer wall of said tank, spaced from the top of said tank and having an opening there through, a hollow structure depending from said top plate, spaced from the passageways in said tank, having openings in the side and bottom walls thereof and having an outlet, a hopper mounted in said combustion chamber, and comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, said outer shell extending through the bottom opening in said hollow structure and having supporting connection with said structure, a chute supported within said hollow structure in line with the bottom opening therein, leading to the inner shell of said hopper and having communication with the interior of said hollow7 structure, and la movable closure for said chute.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a Water tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber and having its outer wall extended above the top wall thereof and having passageways for the products of combustion, a hopper supported in -said combustion chamber, a burner beneath said tank and said hopper, a top plate supported on said outer wall of said tank and having an opening therethrough, a hollow structure depending from said top plate about said opening, forming an outlet chamber 'for products of combustion and having 1an opening in the side and bottom walls thereof, a closure plate for the opening in said vtop plate having an outlet for products of combustion and a filling opening for said hopper,v a chute supported in said outlet chamber with its lower end in line with said hopper and its upper end arranged beneath said outlet and said filling opening, in said closure plate, and a lid for said filling open- 41. ln an apparatus of the character described, a water tank having a vertical opening forming a combustion chamber, having its outer wall extending above the top wall thereof and having passageways for the products of combustion, a burner beneath -said tank, a top plate supported `by said outer wall of said tank and 'having an opening therethrough, a hollow structure depending lfrom saidtop plate, having its bottom wall spaced from the top yof said tank and having `openings in the side and bottom walls thereof, a hopper arranged in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell, an inner shell supported by said outer shell and a supporting member connected with said outer shell and having supporting engagement with said vhollow structure about the opening in the bottom wall thereof, a closure plate for the opening in said top plate having an outlet for products of combustion, and a illingopening for said hopper, a chute supported within said-hollow structure by said supporting member, having its klower end in line with said hopper and having its upper end spaced from said closure plate and in line'with both said filling opening and said outlet, and a lid for said filling opening.

15. .In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to lbe con- -sumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising inner and outer shells arranged one within .the other and spaced apart, one of said shells having a plurality of longitudinal ribs arranged in heat transmit-ting relation to the other shell, said ribs being spaced apart to divide the space between said shells into channels which .are open at theirupper and lower ends.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising inner and outer shells arranged one within the other and spaced apart, one of said shells having a plurality of longitudinal ribs arranged inheat transmitting relation to the other shell, said ribs being spaced apart to divide the space between said shells into channels which are open at their upper and lower ends, said inner shell having openings to connect the space between said shells with the interior of said inner shell.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell supported in proximity to the inner wall of said tank, and an inner shell supported within and spaced from said outer shell and having ribs extending longitudinally thereof with their outer edges in heat transmitting relation to said outer shell and spaced apart to form channels between said shells, said channels being open at both ends.

18. In an apparatus of the character described comprising a tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber, a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell supported in proximity to the inner wall of said tank, and an inner shell ysupported within and spaced from said outer shell and having ribs extending longitudinally thereof with their outer edges in heat transmitting relation to said outer shell and spaced apart to form channels between said shells, said channels being open at both ends, said inner shell having openings to connect the interior thereof with the space between said shells.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, comprising a tank having an opening therethrough constituting a combustion chamber; a container for material to be consumed mounted in said combustion chamber and comprising an outer shell of thin metal supported in proximity to the inner wall of said tank, and an inner shell of thin metal arranged within and spa-ced from said outer shell and having longitudinal portions thereof bent outwardly and having relatively narrow line contact with said outer shell, said longitudinal portions being spaced apart to divide the space between said shells into channels which are open at their ends.

20. A hopper adapted to be mounted 1n the combustion chamber of a garbage incinerator or the like and comprising'a thin inner shell to receive the material to be consumed, and a thin outer shell arranged about and spaced from said inner shell, one of said shells having a plurality of longitudinal ribs arranged with their free edgesv in heat transmitting relation to the other shell and spaced apart to divide the space between said shells into channels which are open at both ends.

21. A hopper adapted to be mourted in the combustion chamber of a garbage incinerator or the like and comprising a thin inner shell to receive the material to be consumed, and a thin outer shell arranged about and spaced from said inner shell, one* of said shells having a plurality of longitudinal ribs arranged with their free edges in heat transmitting relation to the other shell and spaced apart to divide the space between said shells into channels which are open at both ends, said inner shell having openings to connect the interior t-hereof with the space between the two shells.

22. A hopper adapted to be mounted in the combustion chamber of a garbage incinera-i tor on the like and comprising a thin inner shell tofreceive the material to be consumed, said shell having a plurality of outwardly extending hollow ribs arranged lengthwise thereof and having open communication with the interior thereof, and a thin outer shell mounted about said inner shell in heat receiving relation to the outer edges of`saidribs. A

23. A hopper adapted to be mounted in the combustion chamber of a garbage incinerator or the like and comprising a thin inner shell to receive the material to be consumed, said shell having a plurality of outwardly extending hollow ribs lengthwise thereof and having open communication with the interior thereof, and a thin outer shell mounted about said inner shell in heat receiving relation to the outerl edges of said ribs,'said inner shell having openings between adjacent ribs.

Q4. A hopper adapted to be mounted in the combustion chamber of a garbageincinerator or the like and comprising an outer shell of th in metal and an inner shell of thin` metal mounted within said outer shell to receive the material to be consumed and having longitudinal corrugations contacting with said outer shell.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature' hereto.

WILLIAM C. EPSTEIN.

arranged ias 

